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The Appellate Project
@theappellateproj.bsky.social
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A nonprofit organization fostering emerging leaders as they build a more just and representative appellate field.

Learn more at http://theappellateproject.org
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theappellateproj.bsky.social
As a TAP mentee, Justin Lam first connected with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area (APABA-DC) at a conference early in his legal career. In September 2025, APABA-DC honored him with its 2025 Rising Star Award.
A celebration graphic featuring a photograph in the upper half of two men standing together at an event. Both are wearing dark suits and ties. The man on the right, smiling, holds a bouquet of flowers and an award. The man on the left stands beside him with one arm behind his back. They stand on a stage with gray curtains behind them, along with a podium on the left. A teal circular logo with a white column icon sits in the upper right corner. Below the photo is a white section with text. In large bold red font it reads: "Congratulations to TAP Board Chair, Justin Lam, on receiving APABA-DC’s Rising Star Award!" Below that, in teal serif font is a quote: "‘It’s an incredible honor and privilege to be acknowledged by a community that has shaped my path in the law.’" At the bottom in smaller text: "Justin Lam, Counsel at Brennan Center for Justice’s Voting Rights and Elections Program Board Chair & Alumnus at The Appellate Project."
December 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
Read more about TAP’s recent visit with alumni to the Supreme Court: theappellateproject.org/news-and-voi...
The top portion features a burnt-orange textured background and white centered text reading: “Experiences like this visit to the Supreme Court are made possible because our community believes in expanding who gets to shape the law and helping to ensure our appellate system reflects the full diversity, talent, and lived experience of our nation.” The Appellate Project logo sits above the text. The bottom half shows a wide group photo of seventeen TAP alumni standing together outdoors in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, similar to slide one. They smile toward the camera dressed in professional attire. The building and columns are visible behind them.
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
This is what building pathways looks like: supporting emerging leaders and expanding who gets to shape the law in our highest courts.
Top half of the slide is a photograph of a man standing outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, looking to the right of the camera with a calm, reflective expression. He is wearing a tan coat over a collared shirt and tie. Other visitors and the marble building are visible in the background. A small TAP logo appears near the top right corner. The bottom half features a burnt-orange textured background with centered white text displaying a quote: “I’m incredibly appreciative of TAP and the role it’s played in my career trajectory so far, and of the influence it’s having not only for us individually, but collectively as a community of Black and brown law students and lawyers who are trying to make positive change in our country.” – Michael Harding, Judicial Law Clerk at the Eastern District of Pennsylvania & TAP Alumnus.
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
The visit put TAP's program pillars into action: building community among our members, providing hands-on appellate training, opening doors that have historically been closed, and reinforcing why representation in our highest courts matters for the health of our democracy.
A burnt-orange textured background takes up the top half of the slide with centered white text featuring a quote that reads: “It is an honor and a privilege to even be at the United States Supreme Court, and I’d guess it’s every attorney’s dream to argue before the Court one day—it’s definitely my dream.” – Laila Kassis, Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP & TAP Alumna. The bottom half is a photo of a woman standing outdoors in front of the Supreme Court building. She has long wavy blonde hair, wears a brown plaid coat and white blouse, and looks slightly past the camera with a thoughtful expression. A small round TAP logo appears in the bottom left corner.
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
But on November 4, seventeen TAP alumni did exactly that—witnessing appellate advocacy at the highest level.
The top half of the slide is a photo showing a close view of several TAP alumni standing side-by-side outdoors. They are wearing professional attire and smiling softly, facing slightly left of the camera. Autumn-colored trees are blurred in the background. A small circular TAP logo appears in the upper left corner. The bottom half has a burnt-orange textured background with centered white text: “At a moment when appellate decisions are shaping fundamental questions of democracy, rights, and representation, TAP created this experience to give alumni access to a space that has historically been closed to many first-generation and underrepresented lawyers.” The Appellate Project logo appears at the bottom.
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
For many emerging lawyers from underrepresented communities, stepping inside the U.S. Supreme Court to observe oral arguments remains out of reach.
A graphic with a burnt-orange textured background at the top featuring The Appellate Project logo and text. White text reads: “On November 4th, seventeen TAP alumni gathered in Washington, D.C. to hear oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court.” Below the text is a full-width photograph of seventeen professionally dressed TAP alumni standing together outside the U.S. Supreme Court. They stand in two rows, smiling at the camera, wearing suits and professional attire in various colors including navy, beige, gray, burgundy, and blush. The Supreme Court building is visible behind them.
December 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
Appellate courts shape the meaning of our laws and the rights that protect us. Who gets to be in those rooms matters.

Since 2019, your support has helped The Appellate Project provide mentorship, resources, and community to more than 600 law students like Samantha from 108 law schools.
A square promotional graphic with a dark red background features The Appellate Project’s white logo centered at the top: a small column icon next to the text “THE APPELLATE PROJECT.” On the left side of the graphic is a long white pull quote that reads: “Attending oral arguments [through TAP’s event] at the First Circuit was particularly meaningful for me, given the fact that one of the cases we heard will determine the fate of my sister Tribe’s reservation lands. Hearing advocates on both sides debate the Tribe’s past, present, and future reminded me how important it is to have members of our communities represented in the appellate field, helping create binding precedents that promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination.” Below the quote, the attribution appears in white text: “Samantha Maltais, 2022–23 TAP Alum, Harvard Law School, Class of 2024.”
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
Even in a challenging moment for the legal profession, there are real reasons to feel optimistic about the years ahead.
Square graphic with a dark red background. At the top is The Appellate Project’s logo—an icon of a small white column inside a circle—followed by the words “THE APPELLATE PROJECT” in white. To the left, a large dark blue quotation mark sits behind a block of bold white and light-blue text that reads: “Ten, twenty years from now, this profession is going to look so different in so many ways, and that really gives me a lot of hope.” Beneath the quote, in smaller white serif text, it says: “Juvairia S. Khan, Founder & CEO of The Appellate Project.” On the right side of the image is a photo of Juvairia S. Khan sitting onstage, smiling and holding a microphone. She has long dark hair and is wearing a floral dress under a black blazer, with gold earrings and a bracelet. A name badge is clipped to her blazer, and she is seated in a beige chair with notes in her lap.
December 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
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This Native American Heritage month, we acknowledge the legal landscape for tribal communities varies from state to state—and those differences have real consequences.
A graphic with a pink textured background. At the top is an illustration of six overlapping oval shapes in a horizontal row, transitioning from light pink to dark blue. In the upper-right corner is a small circular icon with a white column symbol inside. Centered text reads: “State constitutions address American Indian affairs across roughly six categories: land, taxation, gaming, voting, culture, and governance.” Below that, smaller text says: “Yet how states approach these questions varies dramatically—with some constitutions explicitly protecting Native cultural rights while others contain no such recognition.” At the bottom, a citation reads: “Source: State Court Report, ‘American Indians and Indigenous Peoples in State Constitutions’ by Martha F. Davis.”
November 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
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In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we recognize that this insight strengthens legal reasoning in ways textbook knowledge alone can't provide.
Graphic matches the same branding: dark teal background, The Appellate Project logo at the top below textured color blocks in red, blue, beige, and burgundy. Centered headline in salmon-orange serif letters: “DID YOU KNOW?” Below, large white serif text reads: “About 60% of tribal governments operate under constitutions created through the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, many of which didn’t incorporate traditional tribal values.” Small white source text at the bottom: “Source: State Court Report, ‘Tribal Courts and Constitutions of American Indian Tribes’ by Michael Milov-Cordoba & Dan Lewerenz.”
November 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
When judges interpret these overlapping systems, cultural and historical understanding becomes essential. Native judges bring that perspective—they understand not just the legal text, but the lived reality of how historical policies continue to affect tribal communities today.
Graphic with the same layout and color scheme as page 1: textured red, blue, beige, and burgundy blocks across the top, The Appellate Project logo in white, and a dark teal background. Centered salmon-orange headline: “DID YOU KNOW?” Below, large white serif text reads: “Between 1978 and 2013, the number of tribal courts doubled. Today there are as many as 400 tribal justice systems in the United States.” Small white source text at the bottom: “Source: State Court Report, ‘Tribal Courts and Constitutions of American Indian Tribes’ by Michael Milov-Cordoba & Dan Lewerenz.”
November 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
The intersection of tribal and state legal systems creates unique interpretive challenges—especially when judges must apply constitutional provisions written decades ago.
Full-screen graphic with a dark teal background. At the top is The Appellate Project’s logo in white: a small column icon next to the organization’s name in uppercase serif text. Above the logo is a row of textured rectangular color blocks in red, blue, beige, and burgundy. Centered text in large salmon-orange serif letters reads: “DID YOU KNOW?” Below, in large white serif text: “There are 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes in the United States, each with their own legal system.” At the bottom in smaller white text is the source line: “Source: State Court Report, ‘Tribal Courts and Constitutions of American Indian Tribes’ by Michael Milov-Cordoba & Dan Lewerenz.”
November 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
This Native American Heritage Month, we're recognizing the need for greater representation in our courts.
A graphic from The Appellate Project with a textured light-grey background. At the top is The Appellate Project’s logo: a small navy blue circular icon with a white column inside, followed by the organization’s name in navy blue. Centered below is large text that reads: “There are no Native American state supreme court justices in four of the five states with the largest populations of Native Americans per capita.” The last clause is in dark red. Below that, smaller text reads in navy blue and dark red: “Yet state supreme courts regularly decide complex legal issues affecting the rights and lives of Native American people.” At the bottom center, in small red text: “Source: Brennan Center for Justice, ‘State Supreme Court Diversity — May 2024 Update.’” Along the bottom edge are several overlapping rectangular blocks in muted colors: dark red, pale pink, medium blue, coral, sky blue, and dark teal.
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
TAP Founder and CEO Juvaria Khan recently joined the ABA’s Sound Advice podcast to talk about staying the course in a moment when equity work in the legal profession is being tested, and to share what’s ahead for TAP as we enter our next chapter.
A graphic from The Appellate Project featuring a background image of the U.S. Supreme Court building in muted blue tones. At the top is The Appellate Project logo. Centered on the image is a large pink quotation mark icon followed by the quote in bold white and pink text: “History shows us that you have two options. You can keep going or you can give up. And giving up is not an option, SO WE KEEP GOING.” Beneath the quote, in smaller italic text, it reads: “Juvairia S. Khan, Founder & CEO of The Appellate Project.”
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
Our highest courts shape the laws that affect everyone. We're working to ensure those courts reflect the communities they serve.
A man stands smiling in front of a textured dark red background. He has short black hair and is wearing a light blue button-down shirt. He holds a handwritten sign on white paper that says, “TAP gives me hope that I can have a voice in the future of the law in this country.” In the upper right corner of the image, white text reads: “BEN REYES, Litigation Associate at Blank Rome LLP and 2020–2021 TAP Alum.” In the top left corner is The Appellate Project logo—a white circle with a stylized “TAP” icon next to the words “THE APPELLATE PROJECT.”
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
To our mentors, volunteers, students, funders, alumni, and partners: We are so grateful for you.

As we work toward building a more just and representative future, you make this critical work possible.
A graphic for The Appellate Project. At the top, against a textured red background, white text reads: “OUR COMMUNITY MAKES THIS WORK POSSIBLE.” Above it is The Appellate Project’s logo — a small white column icon next to the organization’s name in white serif text. The bottom two-thirds of the image is a collage made up of alternating squares featuring close-up black-and-white portraits and bold graphic shapes. The portraits show cropped sections of different people’s faces — eyes, noses, mouths — representing a diverse range of ages, genders, and racial backgrounds. The graphic squares include designs in red, blue, pink, and navy: stacked semicircles, overlapping oval shapes, checkerboard patterns, and starburst-style asterisks. The overall design feels modern and textured, emphasizing community and collective identity.
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
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We’re sharing how Josh drew on his military experience to mentor fellow veteran and TAP alumni Alex Porter. Read their full story here: theappellateproject.org/news-and-voi...
A photo of two people standing together at an indoor event. A man in a navy suit and maroon tie stands beside a woman wearing a floral top under a black cardigan; both are smiling and have event name tags. The room has warm lighting and modern architectural details. Below the image, on a blue textured background, white text reads: “I’ve admired TAP’s mission to support law students from underrepresented backgrounds. This work is critical to ensuring that our courts better reflect our communities and the principle that ‘We’re all here.’ Josh Mathew, Associate at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.”
November 13, 2025 at 6:06 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
The issue compounds when you consider how many veterans also come from other underrepresented backgrounds—including communities of color, immigrant families, and first-generation professionals.
A graphic with a blue textured background and a pink quotation mark icon at the top. White text reads: “Now, as a lawyer, I know that veterans are underrepresented in the legal profession, in clerkships, and on the bench. […] Veterans, particularly those from [underrepresented] communities, have a unique voice to share in the legal profession and in clerkships but often face challenges navigating both.” Below the text is a photo of a law school graduation scene. A man in a cap and gown with red and black academic regalia stands smiling between two older adults who appear to be his parents. There are trees and other graduates in the background.
November 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
When Josh Mathew's commander shared this about the Army's diversity, it captured something fundamental: strength comes from inclusion.
A photo of two U.S. Army service members in dress uniforms standing side-by-side in front of a fountain. Both wear black berets with blue infantry insignia, dark jackets with medals and name tags, and light blue shoulder cords. Below the image, on a blue background, white text reads: “My former commander told me: ‘The U.S. Army is one of the most diverse organizations in the world. We have every race, religion, national origin, gender, creed, and sexual orientation. We’re all here.’”
November 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
West Point taught Alex Porter, clerk at the Southern District of Indiana, to approach every matter with neutrality and an open mind. That training reflects what our judiciary needs: more perspectives shaped by experiences outside the traditional legal pipeline.
A person in U.S. Army camouflage uniform stands smiling beside a blue and gold sign reading “Staff Judge Advocate, BLDG 606,” with arrows pointing toward “Director of Admissions,” “Dept of Law,” and “Center for the Rule of Law.” Behind them are trees and a stone building. Below the photo is a blue box with a quote in white text from Alex Porter, Clerk at the Southern District of Indiana. The quote reads: “Serving in the military influences how I aim to approach all matters neutrally and with an open mind. A quote that we learn at West Point is that ‘an officer on duty knows no one—to be partial is to dishonor both himself and the object of his ill-advised favor.’ As a clerk, of course the job requires being unbiased, but I think this approach can also help in advocacy by keeping an open mind to the other side’s case.”
November 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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Read their full story: theappellateproject.org/news-and-voi...
A split slide design. The left side has a dark red background with heading text in bold light blue reading: “ADVICE FOR OTHER VETERANS:” Below it, white serif text reads: “Finding mentors who also served is incredibly helpful, but there frankly aren’t that many. Still, there are a lot of people who will want to get to know and help you because of your background and abilities, and it’s important to make good impressions with them and build connections.” Underneath, italic text reads: “Alex Porter, Clerk at the Southern District of Indiana.” On the right side is a person in dress military uniform holding an American flag outdoors, smiling, with a blue sky in the background.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
As veterans remain underrepresented in clerkships and on the bench, Josh and Alex's mentorship demonstrates how building community around the next generation creates pathways forward—ensuring future leaders from underrepresented backgrounds have the support they need to reach the bench and bar.
A split slide design. The left side has a dark red background with heading text in bold light blue reading: “NAVIGATING IMPOSTER SYNDROME:” Below it, white serif text reads: “Veterans often downplay their achievements because they’ve come up in an environment that consistently reminds them that they could always be faster, stronger, and more proficient. While that mindset is helpful in the military, it’s important for veterans (and other folks navigating imposter syndrome) to give themselves credit and some grace.” Underneath, italic text reads: “Josh Mathew, Associate at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.” The bottom portion shows two people in formal military dress uniforms with berets and decorated jackets, standing in front of a fountain and grassy campus setting, looking at the camera.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
Through TAP's Mentorship Program, Josh helped Alex reframe his experiences as the kind of qualities that make exceptional clerks.
A split slide design. The left side has a dark red background with heading text in bold light blue reading: “TRANSLATING EXPERIENCE:” Below it, white serif text reads: “I suspected that Alex had compelling experiences in service, which he might downplay as ‘just part of the job.’ [...] We then discussed how Alex’s experiences in service—caring for soldiers, while executing his commander’s guidance under tight timelines—would make him a great clerk for a judge.” Underneath, italic text reads: “Josh Mathew, Associate at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.” On the right side is a portrait of a person wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and navy tie, standing against a plain gray background with one hand in their pocket and smiling slightly.
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
When Alex transitioned from the Army to law school, he faced a challenge many veterans know well: translating military leadership into language that resonates in civilian settings.
A split slide design. The left side has a dark red background with heading text in bold light blue reading: “THE IMPACT OF MENTORSHIP:” Below it, white serif text reads: “Josh helped me not only put my [military] experiences into words that my new audience would understand, but also take the next step of writing to persuade my reader that those experiences would make me a capable clerk.” Underneath, italic text reads: “Alex Porter, Clerk at the Southern District of Indiana.” The right side features a photo of two soldiers in camouflage uniforms standing together at dusk. They are wearing helmets and gear and smiling.
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
theappellateproj.bsky.social
This Veterans Day, we're recognizing Alex Porter and Josh Mathew—two Army veterans whose mentorship story demonstrates why representation matters in the legal profession.
A graphic with a dark red background. At the top is The Appellate Project logo and name. Large headline text reads: “FROM THE ARMY TO THE COURTROOM.” The words “ARMY” are in light blue and “COURTROOM” in light pink. Below, smaller text reads: “How Alex Porter translated military service into a clerkship with help from his TAP mentor and fellow veteran Josh Mathew.” Below the text is a photograph inside a courtroom. A judge stands on the left and a clerk stands on the right; both have their right hands raised, appearing to take an oath. The U.S. District Court seal is mounted on the wall behind them. An American flag stands to the far left. The judge’s bench, computer monitors, and wood-paneled courtroom details are visible.
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM